HGG Community Forums

@Cheers, I live in Alabama. Though, my girlfriend lives in Arkansas. Melbourne, I think. Or something.

*I take that back. It's Malvern.

What breed are you getting for that cost? The most i ever spent on a pure bred (Mini Lop specifically) is $50 i think

Ahh ok :) I have four Mini Lops left. I am definitely keeping at least two but now i am trying to talk myself out of keeping a third. The one i can't decide on keeping or not was the last baby of my absolute favorite buck before he retired and he just recently passed away.

@AHayesHorses, yeah. I have always wanted an English Lop, and these are about an hour and a half away, but if my GF is willing to drive out there, it'll be what I go for. I had a rabbit month's ago, close to 2 years ago, but my mom then got a female, and said she could for sure keep them separated, while they ran the yard together. I laughed, but she and insisted. And that's how we ended up with 4 babies that it took ages to sell. So, I have my boy to a rescue to ensure he'd get a good home, and have now promised myself to only get a female. But, if no English Lops will be available soon, I'll end up going with a Holland Lop. Since we live mid city, I'm going for an indoor setup for my room, so I can ensure it's safe. Though, I want to litter train it, so I can eventually let it run my little room, since I have no wires running around. But I want to ask. To do that, is a cage that doesn't have a wire bottom (with tray), best? Meaning, a cage that's on wheels, and they're literally in the tray part.

@MariaChapinFarm3, thanks! I'll talk to my GF first, and see if she's willing. If she's not, then I'll look into something like that.

Depending on your timing, they may even be able to get a bun to Malvern for free so you can catch up with your friend as well as grab your bun.

I personally hate solid bottom cages. They get nasty too fast and spread odor. Much harder to keep clean than wire bottom cages. They can also cause more health issues if not properly cleaned. Get a "stacking" cage that has a wire bottom and a removable tray that slides under it :) Or a hutch with the same set up, wire bottom and removable tray.

Something like this, but obviously make sure the dimensions are correct for the size rabbit you are getting. You can also get urine guards in case the rabbit takes to flinging pee lol I only had one doe who ever did that but it also helps if you have a rabbit that likes to pee in corners. The pee will hit the urine guard and go down into the tray vs out on the floor/wall

https://www.hayneedle.com/product/little-giant-farm-ag-complete-rabbit-hutch-kit.cfm?source=pla&kwid=RabbitCages level04&tid=JEN3204-1&adtype=pla&kw=&gclid=CjwKCAiAwJTjBRBhEiwA56V7qyR-SxZYSu_nmvlyMJLy-V1_2DZKrHrZVhlnpolYTc0-SUmTwYKTehoCEYQQAvD_BwE

Cages just have to be big enough for the rabbit to stretch out and up but for English Lops you might want to go a little bigger since their ears are so long. That'll give them extra space to not step on their ears lol

Lol i had 7 rabbits in my tiny apartment room while in college :)) It was momma and her 6 babies. I had her normal 24x24x18 hutch and then a dog cage attached to it for extra room. It's definitely possible to squeeze them in if you really want to. After they hit 3 weeks old and were running around, they kept squeezing through the bars on the dog cage and i would come home from class to find escapees :))

@Cheers, they got back to me and said I was too far for them. But they sent a link to a rabbit rescue that's only an hour from me.

Once you get the lil guy/gal, be sure to post pictures!

Be VERY carefully introducing unfamiliar does together. Does are incredibly territorial and usually fight. That's the reason all mine are separated. I even had a mother and daughter try to fight each other through their carrier cage.

This is why i love bucks lol I still don't introduce them/keep them together but the worst my bucks have ever done to each other if they have interacted, is mount each other to show dominance :)) That and i just find my bucks easier to bond with and have more personality. I only have one doe who doesn't hate me lol My favorite buck passed away last month so i have been trying to bond with my new herd sire. He's cute but also a nutcase :)) He binkies and wall runs when its food time. This usually results in him spilling his food so i had to get a dish that fastens to the cage. I can't wait to see pictures of your new bunny!

I used to raise rabbits many moons ago before I discovered I was allergic to them, and I have to second (Third? Fourth? :)) ) the recommendation of males for pets. My bucks were my babies, friendly and playful, but the does were mostly all more standoffish and subdued, preferring to be left alone. One of my favorite bucks, a huge Lop/Cali mix we called Heathcliff (because of the song "No Myth", not the cartoon cat or the book. Lol) would happily follow us around the yard like a puppy, but I never had a female that really liked to seek out human company. Mostly the does would bolt and try to hide if they got loose, making me get my dog to help me catch them. The dog was raised helping herd goats and poultry, and he had no problem herding rabbits too. :D

Just a note: bunny spays and neuters are expensive for several factors.

1) not great anaesthesia risks, so they require more monitoring, more man hours for the surgery and sometimes specialized equipment.

2) most small animal vets don’t work on exotics/pocket pets, so you’re paying for the extra expertise

3) buns are more expensive to have overall than a dog or cat of similar size. Their feed is more expensive, their housing and their veterinary care. Rabbits easily reach 10 years old if taken care of properly but they make you work for it. They aren’t as “domesticated” as dogs or cats and are prey animals so will hide most ailments until they’re super sick, so being very well attuned to your bun to monitor them for small signs something is wrong is important.

I don’t work on rabbits—they’re illegal here—so most of what I know is theoretical rather than experience based but buns are a big commitment and hard work.

I hope you’re able to find a bun through the rescue APRN pointed you to. They should be a good long term reference for you as they will know the vets that work on buns in your area, where the best food and living situations are available and generally will be willing to help you out. Obviously if you breed often many rescues will become your adversaries instead of your friends since there are way more animals out there than good homes for them....

One thing to note strongly is that bot flys are a MAJOR problem for bunnies in the American South. Cutebras are no joke. Google at your own risk.

@Cheers, by the first one, you make it seem like there isn't an issue, but then you make it seem that there is. Sorry, I just woke up. I have work this morning after working last night, so I'm dead.

But yeah. That all makes sense.
Also, you must be in some part of Australia. My bf lives there and he has told me several times that rabbits are illegal as pets there.

I recently looked up the local rescue, but nothing would come up, I may have to try again.

And thanks.

@CWScowgirl87, I understand that completely. You may at some point.

@AHayesHorses, that makes sense. I'll see what I can find. Lol